Hot Cars and Kids: a Lethal Combination
Summer’s here and temperatures are climbing. This time of year, in particular, it is deadly to leave an unattended child in the car.
A child’s internal cooling system, which leads to sweating, isn’t as effective as an adult’s. In fact, a child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s would in the same circumstance.
When cooling doesn’t take place quickly enough, a child’s body temperature can rapidly rise to a dangerous level. If it reaches 104°F, major organs may begin to shut down. When it reaches 107°F, death from heatstroke is imminent.
Since 1998, 29 to 49 children have died each year after they were left in a hot car.
- Roughly 20 percent were left in a car by a parent who intended to run a quick errand and returned to find their child dead.
- Close to 30 percent entered a car without their parents’ realizing it and couldn’t get out.
- 52 percent were left in the car accidentally. More than half of them were under 2 years old.
The July edition of Costco Connection magazine features a chart of Estimated Vehicle Interior Air Temperature vs Elapsed Time. http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/201507#pg94 . After 1 hour, on a 95 degree day the inside temperature of a car reaches 140 degrees.
Here are some tips to avoid a tragedy:
- Never leave kids or animals alone in a car – not even or a minute.
- Always check the front and back seats before leaving the vehicle.
- Always lock your car and make sure kids do not have access to the keys or a remote entry devices.
- Check your car and the trunk as soon as you notice kids or pets are missing.
- Immediately call 911 if you see a child or pet left unattended in a car.
If you have been involved in an Arizona motor vehicle accident, we’re here to help. Khalidi Law Firm, PLLC has more than two decades’ experience litigating vehicle accidents, including cars, motorcycles, trucks and even bicycles from our offices in Tucson’s Barrio Historica.
How to Save Money During Divorce
If you are considering getting a divorce, this Wall Street Journal article http://www.wsj.com/articles/money-and-divorce-six-major-mistakes-to-avoid-1431693937 will help you plan and avoid making common costly mistakes.
Mistake #1: Overlooking assets.
Know your family’s assets and liabilities prior to the divorce. Maintain your access to tax returns, bank, retirement, and investment accounts. Make an inventory of property including real estate, collectibles, and other valuables. Keep track of shared debts, such as loans and credit cards. You will still be responsible for them after you are divorced.
Mistake #2: Keeping the house.
A household that took two people to run can be far too expensive for one person to handle. Taxes, utilities, maintenance, and other costs can quickly drain savings. It is often better to sell the house and split the proceeds during settlement.
Mistake #3: Underestimating expenses
Know your post-divorce expenses beyond housing costs, including clothes, food, school, utilities, as well as discretionary expenses such as sports and travel. Overestimate rather than underestimate.
#4: Seeking revenge
Remember that every dollar you spend getting a divorce, is one less you will have to split. Experts suggest approaching a divorce as a favorable business deal rather than seeking revenge. Amicability can save a lot of money.
Mistake #5: Forgetting about Taxes
Consider how the settlement will affect the taxes of both parties. Divide assets in a way that does not stick one party with a higher tax bill. Different accounts may have differing tax consequences.
Mistake #6: Thinking that the Divorce is the Final Step
After divorce there are important financial matters that need to be dealt with, such as updating the will, your health-care proxy, and power of attorney. Don’t forget to transfer titles of real estate, cars, investment accounts, etc.
By following this advice, you can limit costly financial mistakes of divorce.
How to Help Your Children Through a Separation or Divorce
Divorce turns many children’s lives’ upside down. In the English-speaking world today, only about half of all children celebrate their 16th birthdays with their biological parents still living together. No child is too young or too old to be affected by parental separation or divorce.
According to research psychologist and author Dr. Penelope Leach, new scientific research indicates that many assumptions about shared custody arrangements can actually undermine a child’s well-being.
Diane Reem interviewed Dr. Leach who argues that what might seems fair to the parents is seldom best for the child. In the interview and in her new book, “When Parents Part: How Mothers and Fathers Can Help Their Children Deal with Separation and Divorce”, Dr. Leach shares how parents can help their children by putting the needs of the child first.
Dr. Leach believes that the key to helping children adjust to separation or divorce is for their parents to separate the marital relationship from their relationships with their children. An example of this approach is for each parent to help the other maintain a positive relationship with the children.
For other tips and advice from Dr. Leach you can listen to the interview on the Dianne Reem Show here: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2015-05-28/penelope-leach-when-parents-part
The Signs of Identity Theft and What To Do if You’re a Victim
If early signs of identity theft are missed, the time needed to solve financial and credit-related problems caused by the fraud goes up — along with the severity of the crime.
What are the signs that someone has stolen your personal information?
- You see withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain
- You don’t get your bills or other mail.
- Merchants refuse your checks.
- Debt collectors call you about debts that aren’t yours.
- You find unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
- Medical providers bill you for services you didn’t use.
- Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
- A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
- The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.
- You get notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.
What should you do if you are a victim of identity theft?
If someone has stolen and has used your personal information its important to act quickly to limit the damage. IdentityTheft.com (https://www.identitytheft.gov) is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.
Visit the National Identity Theft Victims Assistance Network to learn more.
Grilling Safety Tips
Summer is here and that means its time to pull out the grill.
Roughly half of the injuries involving grills are thermal burns. These safety tips from the Hearth, Patio and BBQ Association (HPBA) will help keep you, your family, and your home safe during grilling.
- Read the owner’s manual.
Always read the owner’s manual before using your grill and follow specific usage, assembly, and safety procedures. Contact the grill manufacturer if you have specific questions. (Be sure to locate your model number and the manufacturer’s consumer inquiry phone number and write them on the front page of your manual.
- Grills are for outside, only.
Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use, only. Never barbecue in your trailer, tent, house, garage, or any enclosed area because carbon monoxide may accumulate and kill you.
- Use in well-ventilated area.
Set up your grill in an open area that is away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves, or brush. Be sure to avoid high traffic areas and always barbecue in a well-ventilated area. Be aware of wind-blown sparks.
- Keep grill stable.
When using a barbecue grill, be sure that all parts of the unit are firmly in place and that the grill is stable (can’t be tipped over).
- Follow electric codes.
If electrically-operated accessories are used (rotisseries, etc.), be sure they are properly grounded in accordance with local codes. Electrical cords should be placed away from walkways or anywhere people can trip over them.
- Use long-handled utensils.
Use barbecue utensils with long handles (forks, tongs, etc.) to avoid burns and splatters.
- Wear safe clothing.
Wear clothing that does not have hanging shirt tails, frills, or apron strings that can catch fire, and use flame-retardant mitts when adjusting hot vents.
- Keep fire under control.
To put out flare-ups, either raise the grid that the food is on, spread the coals out evenly, or adjust the controls to lower the temperature. If you must douse the flames with a light spritz of water, first remove the food from the grill.
- Be ready to extinguish flames.
Use baking soda to control a grease fire and have a fire extinguisher handy. A bucket of sand or a garden hose should be near if you don’t have a commercial extinguisher.
- Never leave a grill unattended once lit.
- Stay away from hot grill.
Don’t allow anyone to conduct activity near the grill when in use or immediately following its use. The grill body remains hot up to an hour after being used.
- Don’t move a hot grill.
Never attempt to move a hot grill. It’s easy to stumble or drop it and serious burns could result.
- Marinate your meat.
Cooking meats (particularly red meat and chicken) at very high temperatures until surface charring occurs can form cancer causing substances (Heterocyclic Amines (HCA)) to form. To minimize the risk you should:
- Use marinades (which can reduce the risk by as much as 98%)
- Do not overcook your meat
- Keep grill temperatures relatively low (under 600 degrees cooking temperature)
- Use thinner or smaller cuts of meat (like kebabs)
You can find more safety tips on HPBA’s grilling safety factsheet, which is available here: http://static.hpba.org/fileadmin/factsheets/product/FS_SafeBBQ.pdf
Online Database Reveals Financial Relationships between Doctors and Pharmaceutical Companies
Patients rely on the recommendations of their doctors to make decisions regarding their health, medications, and treatments. We expect that those recommendations will be unbiased.
Financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and our health care providers may influence what medications and treatments we receive. Nearly 95 percent of U.S. physicians accept gifts, meals, payments, travel, and other services from companies that make the drugs and medical products they prescribe, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. An analysis of 29 studies published by the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2000 found that doctors who accept fees, meals and other perks from drugmakers are more likely to prescribe their brand of drugs.
The Affordable Care Act’s Physician Payment Sunshine Act is increasing transparency in the health care market by requiring physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers to disclose their financial relationships.
The Sunshine Act defines a “physician” as any of the following types of professionals who are legally authorized to practice:
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Osteopathy
- Doctor of Dentistry
- Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Doctor of Podiatry
- Doctor of Optometry
- Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine
Pharmaceutical and medical device companies must publicly report payments or other transfers of value over $10 they make to physicians and teaching hospitals. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports about $3.7 billion worth of transactions between approximately 366,000 American physicians and 2,531 pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers in 2013.
To inform and empower patients, the federal government created the Open Payments program under the Sunshine Act. Patients can easily determine if their health care provider or hospital has a financial relationship with a pharmaceutical or other health care company.
Search this public website https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ for your healthcare provider.
How to Make Your Pool Safe for Children and Pets
Last summer, seven children drowned in Tucson pools. Pool safety experts say drowning is 100 percent preventable.
Here are some steps you can take to make your pool safe and prevent drownings:
1. Surround your pool with a permanent fence that is at least five feet high. This is required by law in Tucson. The fence should have a child safety gate that can only be opened by older children and adults.
2. Maintain the fence and gate. Check for and repair pool fence gaps or spaces created by erosion or damage. Check the fence and gate at least monthly.
3. Keep the pool gate shut at all times. NEVER prop it open or partially close the latch.
4. Remove items leaning against the fence. Young children and pets may be tempted to use anything that looks like stairs or a climbing aid, so never leave anything – including patio furniture, landscape boulders, or toys – leaning against the fence.
5. Cover the poolside deck with a non-slip surface.
6. Keep the pool tidy. Always remove toys, floats, and noodles from the pool so young children are not enticed into the water.
7. Provide and require life jackets. Any child under 3 should wear a life jacket in the pool. Older children who do not know how to swim should also be in one unless under the direct supervision of a responsible person.
8. Teach children about pool safety and how to swim.
9. Designate a “child watcher” when children are playing in or near the pool.
10. If a child or pet is suddenly out of sight, always check the pool first. Drowning can occur in minutes, without any splashing or noise whatsoever. If they are drowning, every second counts, so check the pool first.
11. Keep pool chemicals locked away. Children and pets might be attracted to highly poisonous pool chemicals.
12. Learn CPR and keep a phone near the pool. In the case of an emergency, immediately call 911.
And remember to always be vigilant when children are around water. Children drown in bath tubs and buckets too.
How to Check to Your Smoke Alarm and Create a Home Fire Escape Plan
According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five home fire deaths resulted from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. Smoke alarm failures usually result from missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
The risk of dying in a home structure fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. The National Fire Protection Association recommends checking your smoke alarms once a month.
Working smoke alarms are one important part of a home fire escape plan. The National Fire Protection Association lays out the steps to create a basic home fire escape plan on their website. http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/escape-planning/basic-fire-escape-planning. Every family member should know and practice your home fire escape plan. This is especially important as research indicates that sleeping children don’t always awake when a smoke alarm activates.
This YouTube video shows how to test a smoke detector.
Exploding Plastic Gas Cans Maim and Kill
Do you have a red plastic gas can in your garage?
Under the certain conditions, these portable fuel containers can explode, causing horrific injuries and deaths. They are susceptible to “flashback” explosions caused when gasoline vapors outside the cans ignite and follow the vapor trail back into the container. Children are often innocent victims – injured when their dads poured gas into a nearby lawnmower.
For a few pennies, manufacturers can install a metal flame arrester into the plastic gas can to prevent explosions. After years of consideration, in 2013 the Consumer Product Safety Commission formally called on the industry to incorporate the safety technology. Though exploding gas cans have injured more than a thousand people, the change was recommended but was not mandated.
This news story shows how dangerous these gas cans are and how a cheap flame arrester can improve their safety: http://wishtv.com/2014/11/13/could-small-change-stop-gas-can-explosions/
Of the 19 million gas cans sold each year, 95 percent are plastic gas cans without flame arresters. If you have a plastic gas can, check to see if it has a flame arrester inserted in the nozzle. If it doesn’t have one get rid of it. No matter how safe you try to be, a simple spark from friction can trigger a deadly explosion. Its not worth the risk.
If You Paid a Fee for Not Having Healthcare Coverage in 2014 You May be Able to Enroll Now for 2015 Coverage
If you owed a fee for not having healthcare coverage in 2014 you may qualify to enroll in a 2015 plan through Heatlhcare.gov.
Find out if you qualify for this special enrollment period at this Healthcare.gov website: https://www.healthcare.gov/screener/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_campaign=0319sepnoappsend1&utm_content=03_19_15